Navigating loss requires a delicate balance of emotional processing and administrative tasks. Publishing a tribute in The Morning Call serves as a cornerstone for remembering loved ones in the Lehigh Valley. Whether you're searching for recent records or drafting a notice yourself, understanding the submission process and historical archives helps ensure a fitting tribute.
The Morning Call—serving Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, and surrounding Pennsylvania communities—has documented regional life since 1883. Knowing how to submit notices, find historical records, and write meaningful biographical tributes can ease the burden during difficult times.
How to Submit an Obituary to The Morning Call
Submitting a death notice or a fully written obituary involves specific channels, deadlines, and formatting guidelines. Most notices are coordinated through licensed funeral directors, but families can also submit notices directly.
Submission Channels and Funeral Home Coordination
Most families partner with their chosen funeral home to handle publication. Funeral directors possess direct portals to The Morning Call's advertising and editorial departments. They format the text according to publication standards, calculate costs, and ensure proper placement alongside service schedules.
If you choose to submit independently, you'll need to contact the newspaper's obituary desk directly via their online submission portal or designated email address. Direct submissions require a certified copy of the death certificate or confirmation from the mortuary to prevent fraudulent postings.
Deadlines and Publication Timing
Timing is critical when coordinating funeral services.
- Daily Deadlines: Submissions typically must be received by early afternoon (often between 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM EST) for publication in the following morning's print edition and online portal.
- Weekend Publications: Deadlines for Sunday editions usually fall on Friday afternoon.
- Verification: Always confirm cutoff times with the publication desk, as holiday schedules can alter deadlines significantly.
Understanding Costs and Options
Newspapers generally charge based on column length, word count, and the inclusion of photographs or special emblems (such as military branch insignia or fraternal symbols).
- Basic Death Notices: Brief announcements detailing name, age, and service times are often streamlined or subject to standard flat rates.
- Extended Tributes: Paid obituaries allow families to share full life stories, career milestones, surviving family structures, and personal anecdotes.
Writing a Compassionate and Comprehensive Obituary
Writing an obituary doesn't have to follow a rigid, dry template. While capturing biographical facts is essential, infusing the text with personality honors the individual's true legacy.
Essential Biographical Elements
Every comprehensive notice should cover foundational details accurately:
- Full Legal Name: Include maiden names or known nicknames in parentheses (e.g., Jane Smith "Jan").
- Vital Dates: Birth and passing dates, along with city of residence at the time of death.
- Immediate Survivors: Surviving spouse, children, grandchildren, siblings, and pre-deceased family members.
- Service Details: Date, time, and location of visitations, memorial services, or celebrations of life.
Capturing Voice and Character
Avoid overly clinical language by highlighting what made your loved one unique. Instead of just listing that someone worked at a local manufacturing plant for thirty years, mention their dedication to craftsmanship or their camaraderie with coworkers. Share hobbies, favorite pastimes, or signature phrases that bring their memory to life on the page.
- Example: Rather than writing "He liked gardening," specify: "An avid gardener, he spent crisp autumn mornings tending his prize-winning heirloom tomatoes and sharing harvests with neighbors."
Handling Sensitive Information
Balance transparency with privacy and safety. Avoid publishing specific home addresses for upcoming visitations if security is a concern; listing the venue name and city is usually sufficient. Similarly, omit sensitive personal identification numbers or detailed cause-of-death specifics unless the family explicitly desires openness.
Accessing The Morning Call Archives for Genealogy
The Morning Call archive is a rich resource for local historians, biographers, and genealogists tracing Lehigh Valley roots.
Searching Digital Databases
Modern digital search tools allow researchers to look up records spanning over a century. You can filter results by keyword, surname, date ranges, and surrounding townships. For deep genealogical research, platforms like Ancestry or the Library of Congress Chronicling America often index historical Pennsylvania newspapers.
Navigating Historical Records
When searching older archives, keep spelling variations in mind. Surnames were frequently misspelled by early typesetters, and anglicized versions of names changed over generations. Cross-referencing obituary dates with local census data and church registries in Lehigh and Northampton counties helps confirm familial connections.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I include a photograph in a digital and print obituary?
Yes. Most publications accept high-resolution digital photographs (.jpg or .png format). Ensure the image is clear, preferably a headshot or a cherished candid from a family gathering, as newspaper printing processes require good contrast.
What should I do if I spot an error in a published obituary?
Contact the publication's obituary desk immediately. If the error occurred due to a newspaper transcription mistake, corrections are usually published in the next available edition at no extra cost. If the family provided incorrect text, an amended notice may incur a small additional fee.
Are donations suggested in lieu of flowers?
Many families choose to direct mourners toward charitable giving. Specify the exact legal name of the organization, such as a local hospice, animal rescue, or scholarship fund, and include instructions on how contributions should be mailed or submitted online.
How long do online obituaries remain active?
Online memorials hosted on newspaper partner platforms typically remain accessible indefinitely, serving as a permanent digital archive where friends and distant relatives can leave condolences and light virtual candles.
